CHURCHILL/STURGEON-WEIR RIVERS

THE PLAN
Camp on the west shore of Amisk Lake (18 km)
One portage 275 m / 300 yd

MAPS Snake Rapids to Amisk Lake
Downloaded: No. 10-1, No. 10-2
1:250,000 Series: 63L Amisk Lake
1:50,000 Series: 63L/10 Hanson Lake, 63L/9 Denare Beach

NOTES

from

Marchildon
&
Robinson
unless otherwise noted Spruce Rapids

Major Class 3 rapids. Must be portaged
Fiedler reported on June 25, 1792 "carried over the Eagle Carrying place [Spruce Rapids Portage] on the North side 280 yards pretty good carrying--a bad fall, like going down a pair of stairs notwithstanding the Canadians shoot down it the light Canoes--this fall has something remarkable--as not a single Sturgeon was ever seen above it, in any part of the Track to the Athapiscow & Slave Lakes--altho they are plentiful close at the foot of it, & the Indians occasionally make a fishing weir here to catch them & other fish: the falls being so steep probably stops them from proceeding any further, or whether or not it may be owing to different water, food, etc., I cannot say but thing that it is owing to the Fall being too steep"
Spruce Portage, 275 m / 300 yd

River left in a little cove separated for the head of the rapids by a rocky breakwater
Trail clearly visible and starts in a mud bank cut away next to the water
Trail is broad, smooth and in excellent condition
Frobisher-Henry Fort near mouth of river

Joseph and Thomas Frobisher, Alexander Henry the Elder and 40 men arrived here on November 1, 1775; Lake Amisk froze over the following day.
From Henry's journal "Our first object was to procure food. We had only three days' stock remaining, and we were forty-three persons in number. Our forty men were divided into three parties, of which two were detached to the River aux Castors, on which the ice was strong enough to allow of setting the nets...The third party was employed in building our house, or fort; and in this, within ten days, we saw ourselves commodiously lodged. Indeed, we had almost built a village; or, in soberer terms, we had raised buildings around a quadrangle, such as really assumed, in the wilds which encompassed it, a formidable appearance. In front, was the house designed for Messrs. Frobisher and myself; and the men had four houses, of which one was placed on each side, and two in the rear."

THE TRIP

Easy day--11.2 miles...on the water at 8:45...in camp at 2:00. Spruce Rapids was portaged and we took time to look at the rapids and watch the pelicans play. We did not find the intended campsite, but did have a nice camp at the Saskatchewan Resource Management outpost grounds. This completed our paddling on the Sturgeon-Weir; tomorrow we head out on Lake Amisk.

With the early arrival, we were able to inventory the remaining food (resulted in a few treats for dinner such as Denise's special sweet and sour sauce) and started getting ready for the end of the trip. We decided to go the longer, two-day route to Denare Beach. There was ample time to fish, make use of the solar shower, partake in Happy Hour and just relax and enjoy the great company.

Sturgeon-Weir
Along the river

Spruce Rapids
Around camp. (The picture of Marian and Deb fishing also shows our refrigator that served us so well floating/cooling in the water.)

Aug. 13 (previous day), Aug. 15 (next day)